Metal sheet-piling.



No. $97,943. Patented A r; 15, [902.

s. w. JACKSON.

METAL SHEET FILING. (Application filed Nov. 26, 1900.)

(No Model.)

@miZ/ornga THE ucmmu ri-n33 ca. mmuuruc. wumuomac TINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE XV. JACKSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTER- LOCKING STEEL SHEETING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A COR- PORATION OF ILLINOIS.

METAL SHEET-PILING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,943, dated April 15, 1902.

Application filed November 26, 1900. Serial No. 37,755. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. JACKSON, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Sheet-Piling; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pile construction of the character shown in my prior application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 35,037, filed November 3, 1900, embracing a plurality of metal beams having interlocking edges and adapted for connection and separation by relative endwise movement of said beams.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly point ed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a horizontal section of the retaining-wall of a co'lfer-dam or like structure made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an inside view of the corner or angle between two walls of such a structure. Figs. 8 and at are detail views showing the construction and manner of attaching Wale-supporting brackets to the pile-section. Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the segment of atunneling or excavating shield composed of pile -sections made in accordance with my invention. Fig. 6 is a like section of the segment of a pier made in accordance with my invention.

First referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to t, inclusive, it will be noticed that Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary view of adjacent angularly-disposed retaining-walls of a coffer-dam or like structure and that Fig. 1 illustrates the manner of joining the individual beams or sections which compose said wall. As shown in said drawings, A A designate like bars or beams, each of which is provided at one edge with a flange a, which is bent or folded backwardly or inwardly upon the web of the beam to form three sides of a rectangle. The free edge of the flange extends toward and terminates short of the outer face of the web, which latter constitutes the fourth side of the rectangle. On the opposite edge of each beam is formed a flange a, which extends beyond the margin of the web and is arranged to embrace the flange a of the adjacent beam or sect-ion, the free edge of said flange or section a being folded over the free edge of the flange a and forming a longitudinal groove to receive said free edge of the flange a. Said folded flanges are made of such size that the corresponding sides and angles thereof have close fitting contact with each other, as shown in Fig. 1. The joint formed by said flanges a a of adjacent sections are located on the exterior surface of the retaining-wall when the same constitutes the wall of a cofier-dam or like structure, and the webs of said beams A of each wall are located in the same plane. The inner surfaces of said walls are therefore free from projections.

In constructing a retaining-wall made of the sections A A described a single section or beam is first driven into the ground to the required depth. The nextsection is then placed with the lower end of one of its flanges in proper interlocking relation with the upper end of the complemental flange of the section or beam already driven, so that said firstmentioned flange interlocks with the complemental flange of the section or beam already driven, the interlocking flanges constituting a guide to d rect the beam or section last to be driven into its proper position as the same is driven. A

The usual binding-wales B are attached to the inner surfaces of the retaining-walls and secured rigidly to said walls. As herein shown, said binding-wales consist of I-beams which are supported on brackets C, attached to certain of the sections or beams constituting the walls. Said wales are connected with said brackets by means of rivets passing through the lower flanges of the wales and through the brackets in the manner shown in Fig. 2. The connection between the wales and sections constituting the structure may, however, be otherwise formed than herein shown.

As a further and separate improvement I have provided a novel form of Wale-support ing bracket and a novel means of attaching the same to the beams or sections constituti-ng the retaining-wall. Said bracket andsupporting means are shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4 and are made as follows: The brackets C each consist of a horizontal supporting member 0, on which the wale B rests and is supported, and an oblique leg or brace c,made integral with the member 0. Said bracket is detachably connected with a supporting-plate D, which is permanently attached to the sec tion of the retaining-wall by means of rivets or the like. Said supporting-plate D is provided at its upper margin with a horizontallyarranged upwardly-opening socket d,which is engaged by a downturned portion or lip c on the horizontal member a of the bracket. The supporting-plate is also provided at its lower end with a laterally-directed flange d, which constitutes a seat for and supports the oblique leg or brace c of the bracket 0. The supporting-plate is provided at its side margins with longitudinal vertical flanges 01 which prevent lateral displacement of the bracket with respect to said plate. The bracket is inserted into place in the supporting-plates from above and can only be detached from said plate by lifting the same upwardly therefrom. It will be seen, therefore, that the weight of the wale holds said bracket in place. The supporting-plates D, attached to the several sections or beams constituting the structure, are riveted to said beams before the same are driven, and the brackets O are afiixed thereto and the wales riveted to the brackets after the several sections or beams have been driven into place in the assembled structure. One or more than two wales may be attached to each retaining-wall, as found necessary. In constructing retaining-walls for earth excavations the pile-sections are at first driven theirfull length into the ground and the earth afterward excavated from the inclosure surrounded by the retaining-walls. In such case the supporting-plates D are before the piles or sections are driven affixed to said sections, and said plates are of such form and size as to afiord but little obstruction to the driving of the piles. After the piles have been driven and the earth excavated to the level of the upper set of supporting-plates, if two or more sets of the same be employed in each wall, and when said plates are uncovered the brackets O are set into place in the manner described and the wales attached thereto by the means provided for this purpose. After the upper wales have been secured in place in the manner described the earth is excavated until the level of the next lower set of supporting-plates is reached, after which the brackets O and the wales will be attached thereto in a like manner as before described.

The construction and arrangement of the supporting plates and brackets is an advantageous one in this respect, for the reason that it would otherwise be necessary to attach brackets to the pile-sections by riveting or like means after the same had been driven, which would obviously be attended by great inconvenience. With this construction, as before stated, the work of rivetingis effected before the piles are driven, so that all of the work required for attaching the brackets in place and affixing the wales to the brackets can be readily performed inside the inclosure and no obstruction is presented to make such work of attaching the brackets and wales inconvenient or troublesome.

In Fig. 5 I have shown my invention embodied in a shield used in excavating tunnels, said shield comprising in the completed structure a complete circle in cross-section. Said shield is made up of a plurality of bars or sections E,each of which is transversely curved to conform to the curvature of the completed shield and provided with flanges e 6, like the flanges a a of the construction before described, and which have similar interlocking connection as said above-described flanges. The said flanges are located on the exterior surface of the shell constituting the shield, so that the interior surface thereof is smooth and no obstruction is ofiered on the interior of the shield to the complete and ready removal of the earth inclosed by said shield and the building of a tunnel wall and roof adjacent thereto.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a segment of a hollow pier, which is designed to be made of circular form in cross-section and constructed of metal sections or bars made in accordance with my invention. The joints between the several sections or bars F of the pier are formed by interlocking flangesf and f, like those heretofore described and which have like interlocking engagement with each other. Said flanges in this construction are located on the interior surface of the pier, whereby the exterior surface is free from projections and constitutes in the completed structure a plain cylindric exterior surface. The pier thus formed will desirably be filled with a mass or body of cement, which upon hardening adds great strength to the wall of the pier against flexure due to strain brought thereon.

I claim as my invention 1. Metallic sheet-piling consisting of metal beams provided on their adjacent side margins with dissimilar partially-closed, looped flanges, one of said flanges being bent so as to extendlaterally from and backwardly upon the web of the beam and then inwardly with its free edge directed toward and terminating at a distance from the adjacent face of the said web, and the other flange being bent or folded so as to extend laterally from the plane of the beam, then in the direction of said plane and then inwardly toward the same and having its free edge directed outwardly parallel with the'inwardly-directed portion, so as to form thereon a marginal groove, said flanges being so constructed that the corre- IIO sponding portions thereof have close-fitting contact with each other and the inwardly-directed edge of the first-mentioned flange fits within the said groove of the second one.

2. The combination with a pile structure embracing a plurality of metal beams Which have interlocking edges adapted for connection and separation of the beams by relative endwise movement thereof, of supportingbrackets adapted for detachable connection with the beams.

3. The combination with a pile structure embracing a plurality of metal beams which have interlocking edges adapted for connection and'separation of the beams by relative endwise movement thereof, of a bindingwale, and supporting-brackets adapted for detachable connection with the beams to which said wale is affixed.

4:. The combination with a piling-section, of a Wale-supporting bracket and a plate-which is attached permanently to said section and with which said bracket is adapted for detachable engagement.

5. The combination with a piling-section of a bracket-supporting plate D adapted to be permanently attached to said section and a bracket C which is adapted for detachable connection with said plate.

'6. The combination with a pilingsection of a bracket-supporting plate having an upwardly-opening socket at its upper end and a seat at its lower end, and a bracket having an upper downwardly-directed end to engage said socket, and a lower end adapted to engage said seat.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing'as my invention I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 23d day of November, A. D. 1900.

GEORGE WJJAOKSON.

Witnesses:

G. CLARENCE POOLE, M. L. PRICE. 

